General News

Snacking chocolate maker, Candid is set to market their whole-plant, lower-sugar chocolate product ‘NOONS’. Candid uses simple, healthy ingredients to create one of the cleanest chocolate products on the market. There are no emulsifiers, unnatural sweeteners or added cane sugar. The chocolate snacks are made from organic ingredients including tropical fruits and superfoods. NOONS are paleo-friendly, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Sweetened with cacao fruit, which is usually discarded in the chocolate-making process, Candid delivers products that reduce waste and offer an improved nutritional profile. Cacao fruit provides a delicate sweetness and added health nutrients, including magnesium, B vitamins and various antioxidants. Better for the environment, better for you, and delicious. The company’s first four flavors in the U.S. market are Pineapple & Coconut, Banana & Nibs, Golden Berry Turmeric & Mango, and Mango & Cinnamon. NOONS offer a deep dark chocolate taste with slightly fruity, tart undertones and a pleasant, crunchy texture. The upstart brand is attracting the next generation of chocolate snackers with their healthier ingredients, environmentally-friendly packaging, and playful brand appeal. Candid is also raising the standards of sustainable snacking. NOONS are the only chocolate snacks In the U.S. market packaged in a recyclable box and compostable inner bag. Candid works directly with small-holder farmers in Latin America to responsibly source ingredients, and support regenerative agroforestry. The company, co-founded by entrepreneur Chris Kajander, debuted in January 2020 and is currently selling online and in over 100 retail locations across the New York metro area. Candid is also planning to expand in 2020 to strategic markets throughout the U.S. "NOONS are meant to be healthier, snackier, and more fun. If customers want to dig deeper and learn about our mission, they’ll find that Candid supports regenerative agroforestry and ethical trade. But if they just want a delicious chocolate snack, that’s fine, too.” says Candid CEO Chris Kajander.

LoveRaw has unveiled a major rebrand alongside the expansion of its current product range with the launch of an exciting new category. With a focus on delivering vegan chocolate that tastes like ‘chocolate chocolate’ and doesn’t compromise on taste, LoveRaw is pleased to introduce its unique M:lk Choc Bar range, produced in three delicious flavours: ‘Just Chocolate’, ‘Salted Caramel’ and ‘Peanut Butter filled’. Launched in conjunction with its rebrand, the new LoveRaw M:lk Choc Bars have real potential to fill a void in the vegan market, as recent research shows that milk chocolate is one of the most-missed foods by vegans. Representative of the LoveRaw mantra ‘chocolate first, vegan second’, the new M:lk Choc Bar is a decadent confectionery snack, and like all other LoveRaw products are 100% vegan and made using the finest ingredients; no artificial nonsense, no palm oil, no dairy and no compromise. Rimi Thapar, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of LoveRaw confrimed: “In the past, vegan food has been given a bad rep for a variety of reasons, including the assumption of an inferior flavour. This stigma is slowly fading as the industry evolves, but despite what many consumers (and businesses) think, there shouldn’t have to be a trade-off when it comes to vegan products and how they taste.” “The UK vegan market is set to grow by 327% over the next 12 months alone, and potentially even more so with people changing their eating habits in response to the coronavirus pandemic. By putting all of our efforts into developing a great-tasting vegan milk chocolate bar, we believe we have successfully provided a delicious solution for both vegans and not-so-traditional “Unvegan” vegans who want to dip in and out of veganism as and when they choose.” LoveRaw has successfully channelled its fun and edgy personality through its new branding, with a modern refreshed logo and cartoon illustrations of co-founders Rimi and Manav Thapar on its packaging, reflecting the brand’s ethos of not taking itself too seriously. To be phased in throughout April 2020, both the rebrand and launch of the M:lk Choc Bar range follows a recent seven-figure investment from Blue Horizon Ventures, a venture capitalist renowned for investing in ‘game-changing’ plant-based food brands. Forecast to dominate the vegan confectionery sector, the LoveRaw M:lk Choc Bar is the first product to be launched from an exciting pipeline of NPD for 2020, with the range already available online at www.eatloveraw.com and Amazon. Rimi added: “Traditionally, LoveRaw has always unveiled the launch of new products or flavours in retail stores first, but with people being urged to stay home due to the widespread of Coronavirus, we as a brand wanted to ensure we supported this message and provided the opportunity for vegans and ‘unvegan vegans’ to purchase our new M:lk Choc Bar range online, both directly via LoveRaw and also via Amazon.” From mid-April consumers can also purchase the M:lk Choc Bar range from Boots and Whole Foods UK, with additional retailers to be announced in the coming weeks.

Hello friends, readers and valued customers of Kennedy's! We wanted to give you an update of our situation amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Following government advice of social distancing, the Kennedy's team are now working remotely but we will still be printing and publishing as normal. There may be slight disruptions as we try to navigate our phone lines, but rest assured there will be a solution to this in due course and we will keep you fully updated on any new developments. Our emails are still accessable so please do not hesitate to contact our editiorial team - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or our sales team - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any quereies or need any further clarification. Stay positive and stay safe - we will be here for you if you need us at all. All the best The Kennedy's Team

Quality Street fans no longer need to wait until the festive season for a taste of their favourite treat, after Nestlé unveiled the first all-new Quality Street product in almost 85 years. Quality Street Intrigue, a range of indulgent truffles inspired by classic Quality Street flavours, arrives in UK stores from this week. Rebecca Holt, Brand Manager for Quality Street said: “Quality Street is a much-loved UK brand; and we know many fans would love to enjoy more of it all year round. That’s why we’ve created a product that will enable consumers to experience Quality Street in a brand-new way. “With Intrigue, we’ve taken the essence of Quality Street and added a contemporary twist. Intrigue combines classic Quality Street elements such as praline, caramel and fruit, with a delicious truffle centre. Perfect as a gift whatever the occasion, we think this new product is very special indeed. We hope it will delight Quality Street fans as well as introduce new consumers to the brand.” Quality Street Intrigue comes in three delectable flavours: Salted Caramel Truffles, Praline Truffles and Orange Truffles. They are available in 200g boxes (RRP £5.00) each containing 20 individually wrapped sweets. Paying tribute to the iconic Mackintosh caramel toffee which was the forerunner to Quality Street, Salted Caramel Truffles have a salted caramel flavoured centre and milk chocolate coating, dipped in crunchy salted caramel pieces. Inspired by two of the nation’s favourite Quality Street varieties - the Green Triangle and the Purple One, Praline Truffles feature a smooth praline truffle centre encased in a milk chocolate shell and covered in hazelnut pieces. And like its Quality Street counterparts the Orange Crunch and Orange Crème, Intrigue Orange Truffles provide a tantalising burst of citrus, coated in milk chocolate and sprinkled with orange-flavoured pieces. Quality Street IntrigueSalted Caramel and Praline Truffles are now available in Morrisons and Asda stores nationwide and in Tesco stores from April. Orange Truffles are exclusive to Asda.

St Pierre is extending its ‘On-the-Go’ range with the launch of the new individually-wrapped. The new product reportedly taps into two current consumer trends – the growth of the food-to-go sector and the increasing popularity of indulgence foods. Made to an authentic Dutch recipe, the St Pierre Millionaires Waffle is topped with caramel and is coated in Belgian chocolate. Each individually wrapped 45g waffle is available in selected WHSmith travel stores and is due to launch in a leading UK supermarket later this year. The food-to-go sector continues to move at a rapid pace, and is predicted to reach £23.4 billion in 2024, a 26% increase on 2019, which is double the 13% growth of the wider UK food and retail grocery market over the same period. In line with increasing consumer demand for indulgent products, sales of St Pierre Caramel Waffles alone increased 32% year-on-year over the summer months. As well as consumer demand for eating ‘on-the-go’ showing no signs of slowing down, shoppers’ palates are becoming more sophisticated with consumers looking for products that engage them across a number of touch points, not just taste and convenience. Jeremy Gilboy, Founder, St Pierre Groupe comments: “The new Millionaires Waffle adds a new dimension to the already popular St Pierre ‘On-the-Go’ range, which we have seen grow significantly since its launch in 2018. As a trailblazing brand, our creative team have developed a product that not only tastes delicious but taps into a number of consumer trends, whilst offering simple indulgence on-the-go.” The Millionaires Waffle joins the St Pierre ‘On-the-Go’ range, which has a wide variety of products tailored to different times of day, from Croissants and Pains au Chocolat for breakfast, to Vanilla Brioche Swirls and Chocolate Chip Brioche Rolls for lunch, and Caramel Waffles for snacking any time of day.

Following the recommendation of the German Federal Government due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Messe Düsseldorf is postponing the leading international trade fair interpack. It will now take place from 25 February to 3 March 2021. Based on this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of people infected with the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation. In addition, there is the general ruling issued by the city of Düsseldorf on 11 March 2020, in which major events with more than 1,000 participants present at the same time are generally prohibited. "The decision was taken in close consultation with our advisory board and sponsoring associations," emphasises Werner M. Dornscheidt, Chairman of the Board of Management of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. It also reflects the wishes of individual industries: "As their partner, we are currently doing everything in our power to reduce the economic losses suffered by our exhibitors". "The city of Düsseldorf is following the instructions of the state government. Our aim is to slow down the spread of the corona virus so that the health system can continue to function properly," emphasises Thomas Geisel, Lord Mayor of the state capital of Düsseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Düsseldorf trade fair company. Delaying the spread of the virus as much as possible is also a declared goal according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In order to fulfil Messe Düsseldorf's responsibility for risk prevention, the company primarily had to minimise the increased risk of infection at major events. Measures to reduce the risk of transmission at major events, which the Robert Koch Institute has clearly defined - such as ventilation of the venue appropriate to the risk of infection, the exclusion of persons from risk groups and the comprehensive installation of entrance screening, were practically impossible to implement. Also comparable measures were and are unreasonable in view of the unforeseeable rapid development and the size of the various events with up to 60,000 participants. interpack’s industry partners support the decision to postpone the fair and together with those responsible, are counting on a successful event next year. "interpack is the absolute top event for the international packaging industry and related processing industries. The trade fair thrives on personal encounters and direct exchange between people from all over the world. This is only possible if there are no health risks involved. Therefore, the postponement is responsible and right. We are looking forward to next year's event to discuss the issues that are defining the industry, such as sustainability, and to present appropriate solutions," comments Christian Traumann, President of interpack 2020 and Managing Director & Group President at Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG. "The coronavirus and the associated restrictions now represent a major challenge for the entire mechanical engineering sector. The possible and currently unforeseeable effects of the pathogen with an incalculable risk of infection, the threat of quarantine for returnees, general travel restrictions in some countries, but also considerable travel restrictions on the part of many companies unfortunately make it impossible to successfully hold the interpack in May. The VDMA, as a supporting association of interpack, welcomes a postponement under the given exceptional circumstances. The new date now ensures reliability in planning" says Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association. The Düsseldorf hotel industry is also sending out an important signal through its umbrella organisation DEHOGA (Trade Association for the Hospitality Industry): "We appeal to our members and the entire industry to be flexible when it comes to rebooking by exhibitors and visitors. The Düsseldorf trade fairs such as interpack play an enormously important role for the city, the hotel industry and the catering trade. It would be counterproductive not to show goodwill in this situation,” as both DEHOGA-Representatives Giuseppe Saitta (Chairman Düsseldorf/District Group Rhein-Kreis Neuss) and Rolf D. Steinert (Düsseldorf/Rhein-Kreis Neuss Hotels and Tourism Group) emphasise. Werner M. Dornscheidt is pleased about the general consensus and encouragement in this special situation: "We would like to thank all our partners for their excellent cooperation in making these difficult and time sensitive decisions. We are pleased that together a date was found so quickly in order to allow all those affected to reliably plan."

Easter for the epicure sorted, with dairy and vegan slab fudge selections in seasonal flavours ... For that somebody for whom a pedestrian chocolate egg just isn't going to wash, our artisan confectioners have the answer. Go plastic free this Easter with a luxury gift box of authentic slab fudge, handmade in copper pans over an open flame, creamed on marble counters for the famous Fudge Kitchen soft centre and crisp coating; with each batch taking 45 strenuous minutes for our highly skilled team to make, using an 1800s original core recipe. Each box is packed with four whopping 175g slices of freshly made fudge, individually wrapped ... Easter selection ... Handmade, using fresh whipping cream: Chocolate Fudge Brownie Salted Caramel White Chocolate Hot Cross Bun Vegan Easter Selection ... Handmade, replacing the dairy with either coconut milk or soya milk, although you’d never know: Hot Cross Bun Lemon Drizzle Millionaire’s Shortbread Traditional Toffee Weight: 700g RRP: £16.00 (plus P&P) Available: from all Fudge Kitchen shops and online at www.fudgekitchen.co.uk (from 20th March while stocks last) Every box a cause for celebration ... The online Build-A-Box facility allows you to create a bespoke fudge selection of favourite flavours and now includes the option of a super stylish, stripy seal to mark the occasion (although every Fudge Kitchen box is clearly an occasion). Head over to Fudge Kitchen and ‘click and drag’ your way into somebody’s heart: Choose your fudge, whether whipping cream Slab Fudge, Butter Fudge or Vegan versions of both Choose your box, from bronze, cocoa or mink colour luxury gift box Choose your flavours, from a rotating menu of up to 15 original recipes, from classics to seasonal limited editions and drag them into your ‘box’ Choose you message, with a choice of seasonal and occasion seals including, Happy Birthday, Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Father’s Day, Happy Christmas, With Love, Thank You and, when all else fails, a simple Hooray! Because that’s what they’ll say when they open it, after all. Choose Fudge! Or go ready-made on handmade, themed fudge selections, with new occasion sleeves Leave the curating to the professionals, with a range of four 15-piece and two nine-piece butter fudge selections that has something for everyone: Cream Tea, packed with artisan chais and teatime treats Tasting, featuring classic crowd-pleasers including five Great Taste Award winners Boozy, a collection of confectionery cocktails sourced from micro-breweries Tuck Shop, a retro rummage through Ye Olde Sweete Shoppe Salted, a shameless celebration of that unbeatable combo of sweet fudge with artisan salts Each piece has been hand worked to creamy dreaminess, individually hand decorated, gift boxed to be revealed at the pull of a satin ribbon. Choose from new Thank you or Happy Birthday luxury card sleeves to turn a gift into an event. Nine piece RRP: £10.65 (plus P&P) | weight: 195g 15 piece RRP: £15 (plus P&P) | weight: 330g Availability: https://fudgekitchen.co.uk/en/categories/gourmet-butter-fudge-gift-selections

Booth 701, SNAXPO, North Carolina, US, 22-24 March 2020 tna will showcase its range of integrated, start-to-finish food processing and packaging solutions for the snack industry at this year’s SNAXPO — including the newest addition to the tna robag® 3 packaging portfolio, the tna robag® 3e. Visitors are also invited to experience live demonstrations of the tna intelli-flav® OMS 5.1 on-machine seasoning system, the tna roflo® HM 3 horizontal motion and tna roflo® VM 3 vibratory motion conveyors — suitable for a range of snack applications, from potato chips and pellets, to french fries. Advanced real-time communication The most advanced vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) system in the world, the new tna robag® 3e will take centre stage at the first SNAXPO event of the new decade. With fully integrated real-time communication software and smart diagnostics, the system takes control sophistication to an unprecedented level. “The food packaging industry is evolving at a rapid pace, with manufacturers finding themselves under ever-increasing pressure to improve the operational efficiency of their packaging processes,” comments Steven Wolfe, General Manager at tna North America. “In an industry where the real and virtual worlds are increasingly converging, digital control systems must become more sophisticated to deliver the levels of automation and performance expected — from a single piece of equipment to entire production lines.” End-to-end snacking solutions As the most comprehensive event devoted exclusively to the international snack industry, SNAXPO is an important show for tna to discuss its end-to-end snack capabilities for potato chips, french fries, extrusions and pellets — from the latest flexible on-machine seasoning systems and conveyors to packaging solutions. “The savoury snack market is growing worldwide, driven by a variety of consumer trends including ‘health and well-being’ and ‘exotic flavour variations’. This presents an array of opportunities for brand owners to capitalise on the growing demand for savoury snacks. The challenge for producers, however, lies in the ability to switch efficiently between multiple product types, while keeping up production quotas,” adds Teri Johnson, Divisional Sales Manager, tna North America. Attendees can visit the tna stand to find out how the tna intelli-flav OMS® 5.1 system offers the ultimate in flexibility for quick flavour changes and easy recipe alterations, while enabling a precise ingredient application to meet strict guidelines for health product claims. They can also discover how the tna rolfo® series incorporates ‘switcheroo’ and erector technologies to handle multiple products on a single line, as well as how tna robag® aids fast and accurate product transfers to maximise packaging speed and throughput.

Mr. Stanley has recently launched a new Cabinet of Curiosities featuring traditional English favourites such as ‘Butterfingers’ buttery fudge, ‘Foods Gold’ English toffee, as well as concoctions infused with new flavours, such as ‘Monsoon Martini Fudge’ with a twist of espresso martini, gin and botanical flavourings, ‘Dutch Courage’ – to chocolates and caramels to nougat, this new array of treats has something for everyone – whether it’s a gift for loved ones…or for oneself!

Syntegon Technology is presenting several innovations for confectionery manufacturing at interpack 2020. For candy masses, Syntegon Technology is unveiling the BDS weighing, dosing and mixing system for batchwise production with energy savings of 50%. The portfolio now comprises two systems with low energy consumption: the BDS system for batchwise and the BDK system for continuous production. In addition, the BMV mixing system will be on display at the fair, featuring a hygienic magnetic stirrer. For the production of jellies, Syntegon Technology is showing the Makat mogul system with new components, including an inline weighing system, a newly designed chain-free de-stacker and innovative rotation nozzles for more effective cleaning processes. "Cleanability, ease of operation and resource efficiency play a key role for confectionery manufacturers. These values feature in all our process solutions," Frank Jansen, Product Manager at Syntegon Technology, explains. Energy savings in candy production Syntegon Technology sets its focus on intelligent and sustainability solutions, in particular with regard to resource efficiency. With the innovative BDS weighing, dosing and mixing system, confectionery manufacturers can produce sugar masses in an energy-efficient manner. Traditionally, water has to be added to the mass during mixing and then boiled out again later. This step is now largely eliminated, resulting in energy savings of around 50%. As an alternative to the continuously producing BDK system, the new BDS system doses the candy and binding masses in batches, which allows for more individual mixtures and thus offers manufacturers a higher degree of flexibility. Syntegon Technology will also be showing the new BMV mixing system, which features a magnetically coupled stirring element. Compared to attached stirring elements, this method increases hygiene, cleanability and accessibility. The new hygienic design rounds off the BMV and the BDS and ensures an even higher standard of hygiene. New de-stacker and quality control concept for Makat mogul Syntegon Technology is also exhibiting the Makat mogul in stainless steel execution, featuring new components. These include the newly designed de-stacker that feeds the trays into the mogul. "This new development offers jelly manufacturers an attractive system that stands out for its easy operation, minimal troubleshooting times and significantly reduced maintenance requirements. We have also paid special attention to accessibility and ergonomics,” Dr Sandra Link, Product Manager at Syntegon Technology, explains. The new inline weighing system is another highlight on the Makat mogul. It continuously monitors the product weight throughout the production process, which constitutes an integrated quality control concept. New rotation nozzles simplify cleaning processes The new Makat-specific rotation nozzles come into play in the mogul in several places. The RNC 6000 tray edge cleaning system cleans the tray edges accurately without brushes. In the spirit of sustainability, it not only reduces starch loss significantly but also minimizes production waste, cleaning efforts and costs. The RNC 3000 product cleaning system, based on the same technology, removes starch from the products in preparation of the finishing process. The two RNC systems stand out for their significantly reduced maintenance requirements and long lifetime. They are also available as upgrade kits and are therefore suitable for retrofitting existing machines. System provider with consulting expertise Syntegon Technology, formerly Bosch Packaging Technology, has been developing machines for confectionery production since 1921. Customers can develop and test new products throughout the entire process chain – from the kitchen to forming and packaging – in close cooperation with Syntegon Technology at several product development centers. A comprehensive global service network complements Syntegon Technology’s line competence. Syntegon Technology's innovations will be shown at interpack 2020 from 7 to 13 May in Duesseldorf in Hall 6, Booth A30-C30.